The American Federation of Teachers chartered Local 504, the Lake County Teachers’ Federation, in 1937. The Local began with teachers from Waukegan High School, but in 1977 it federated with seven other AFT-affiliated unions in the county under the Lake County Federation of Teachers (LCFT). The individual unions retained some autonomy, becoming known as councils, and delegates from each council form the governing body of the LCFT. Additional councils formed and joined the LCFT at later dates. The LCFT won collective bargaining in Waukegan in 1967 over the Illinois Education Association (IEA)-affiliated Faculty Association, though Illinois state law did not guarantee such rights until 1984. In addition to collective bargaining, the LCFT has worked to secure tenure rights for teachers, improve pay and working conditions, and eliminate de facto segregation in Lake County schools. Members of the LCFT include primary and secondary school teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff such as secretaries and bus drivers, psychologists and social workers, and higher education faculty and support staff. The LCFT is affiliated and often works in conjunction with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), and the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

The AFT Affiliate Lake County Federation of Teachers Records consist primarily of organizing, negotiation, and grievance files. Extensive grievance files include cases related to involuntary transfers, pay, benefits, family and medical leaves of absence, certification, retirement, contested evaluations, and conflicts with administration. LCFT Defense Files from IFT field representative Glenn Smith contain bills, correspondence, and other documents related to legal services for grievances. Also included are files related to LCFT history, including its 50th anniversary celebration in 1987 and newsletters published by the IFT, LCFT, and councils within the LCFT. Additional document types include correspondence, contracts, reports, meeting minutes, handwritten notes, and news clippings.